NCIS has some of the most faithful fans in television, supporting the long-running series for 17 seasons. However, this hasn't stopped devoted viewers from nitpicking some glaring mistakes.

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Although the CBS procedural drama is known for its convoluted plots and unexpected twists, it has maintained its popularity for nearly two decades. Unfortunately, some NCIS fans have questioned the history of one of the show’s most popular characters.

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Ducky has served as the NCIS’ chief medical examiner since the show’s inception, and has even made guest appearances on NCIS: Los Angeles in 2014 and 2016.

Whenever the team needs to conduct a tricky autopsy, Ducky is always the expert on hand, and his forensic expertise has frequently got the agents out of some tight spots.

However, when looking back at the very first season, one fan may have realised Ducky’s history knowledge doesn’t quite compare to his medical know-how.

Taking to online discussion forums, the inquisitive viewer speculated on the accuracy of one of Ducky’s frequent rambling stories during the episode Left For Dead about dissecting an old corpse.

NCIS plot hole: How long has Gibbs known Ducky? (Image: CBS)

NCIS plot hole: Jack reunited with her daughter in the last episode (Image: CBS)

They said: “While the NCIS crew are working a crime scene, Ducky starts yet another parable about his past experiences, referring to the dating of an Indian skeleton by the caliber of the bullet, ‘a .40-75’.”

His tales from old cases sometimes yield useful info but, in this case, the non-sequitur only succeeds in casting doubt over the legitimacy of Ducky’s claims.

The fan continued: “He states that since he knew the year that the US Army used that caliber, he could accurately date the remains.

“Unfortunately for Ducky, the US Army never used a .40-75. It did, however, authorize a contract for a .45-70 cartridge in 1873.”

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Some other mistakes involving Ducky have either confirmed he has one of the most mysterious pasts of the team of special agents, or the NCIS writers simply didn’t give their first draft a final once over before filming.

One viewer said: “Gibbs and Ducky have supposedly only known each other 10 years, but one seems to get the hint from the dialogues that we're supposed to think they've known each other considerably longer.”

While one more fan pointed out a mistake in earlier seasons: “Ducky talks about having several nephews and nieces and some siblings, in later seasons he's said to be an only child.”